Don't know how many of you are familiar with Dana Milbank. He writes a politics column for the Washington Post and appears on the cable, political talk shows every once in a while. Anyway, his columns are usually substantive, but he writes with an amusing voice. So, this was the amusing half of his coverage of yesterday's press conference:

As the time grew nearer for Barack Obama's first news conference as president-elect yesterday, aides announced that the start would be delayed by 10 to 15 minutes. Then they announced a five-minute delay. Then another. Finally, the next president finally sauntered onto the stage, a fashionable 23 minutes late.

After eight years of on-time news conferences by President Bush, the nation now has tangible proof: The Democrats are back in charge.

There were other signs of change, too, some refreshing, some less so.

The president-elect, tickled that reporters stood when he entered the room for the first time, forgot the standard "Please be seated."

When asked whether he had conferred with any living ex-presidents, he seemed to dis Ronald Reagan's ailing widow. "I didn't want to get into a Nancy Reagan thing about, you know, doing any seances," he said. (He later called her to apologize.) Even more alarming for those steeped in the protocol of the Beltway, Obama, in Chicago, called on representatives of both local newspapers but -- horrors -- didn't call on The Washington Post.

But aside from those stylistic breaks from his predecessor, the agent of change was a study in caution.

He wore a Bush-blue tie. Over his shoulder loomed Jimmy Carter's Fed chairman. And when he opened his mouth to speak, the first word that came out after "Thank you very much" was: "Uhhhh." (Pause.)

[snip less amusing stuff]

No technique was spared in projecting stability and reassurance. In addition to the economic muckety-mucks who stood silently on stage behind the president-elect, Obama's aides decided to make it an eight-flag news conference. Thus the television screen was a tableau of red, white, blue, and Paul Volcker's belly sticking through his unbuttoned suit jacket. Obama's lectern was adorned with a graphic announcing "THE OFFICE of the PRESIDENT ELECT."

[more less amusing stuff]

He closed with a final platitude -- "The goal of my plan is to provide tax relief to families that are struggling" -- then called the news conference to a close not quite 20 minutes after he began. Walking off the stage, he called out "bonjour" to a French reporter. That part, at least, was a change we can believe in.

Rosa sat
so Martin could speak
Martin spoke
so the children could go to school
The Children went to school
so Obama could run
Obama is running
so our kids can fly.

Tyakoffs:

Thanks, I did!! It was most satisfying. I also like your changes to the poem. It was the collective effort of everyone supportive of civil rights who made this day possible. I bet your parents were most pleased North Carolina went for Obama. I was glad to see Kay Hagan unseat Libby Dole. My husband's cousin lives in North Carolina. Where she lives is one of the few liberal strongholds in the state so she was happy the rest of the state finally caught up with them.

Thanks, it was a very emotional night for my parents. Like so many others my mother and father were in tears. They said they never expected to see this day happen. I called them just after the Obama's election was declared. They also really like McCain's speech as well as Obama's.

We lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I have very vague memories of my time there, but I do remember lovely flowers, honeysuckle, and so badly wanting to go swimming at the local private pool. My parents wouldn't join because it was segregated.

Thanks, it was a very emotional night for my parents. Like so many others my mother and father were in tears. They said they never expected to see this day happen. I called them just after the Obama's election was declared. They also really like McCain's speech as well as Obama's.

We lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I have very vague memories of my time there, but I do remember lovely flowers, honeysuckle, and so badly wanting to go swimming at the local private pool. My parents wouldn't join because it was segregated.

My state and my county were blue this time! Unfortunately, my district and precinct were red. However, the town I live in voted 61% in favor of Obama. My district doesn't include all of my town since Florida loves convoluted, gerrymandered districts. My little town of less than 10,000 is represented by two US representatives, 3 state representatives and two state senators.

I spent half the day at my polling place. At 7 AM there was a long line. By 7:30 AM the line had lessened. My son voted at 7:30 AM and was the 98th person to vote. My dh and I early voted since I was working the polls.

Well, since I voted for Franken.... Anyway, as for the Lizard People ballot, the person had filled in the Franken circle, so I guess I'd give it to him. I don't know. What if they recounted every state? I think there are ballots like this all over.
There was one ballot with a little slash-like mark by Coleman and one person thought it was an arrow and should go to Coleman. Really...that's not right because the circle is supposed to be filled in. Besides...it wasn't even close to looking like an arrow._________________"As you wish"
~The Princess Bride

It's kind of obnoxious that Caroline Kennedy thinks she can just make a few phone calls and become a senator just because she suddenly decides she wants to be one. When pundits say Hillary Clinton never held office before she was elected. The point is, she got elected. She worked for that seat, campaigning all across the state, connecting with her prospective constituents from all walks of life. She gave speeches, she debated, she ate rubbery chicken dinners. She proved herself.

The times I've heard Caroline Kennedy speak, I was not moved. She talks in a monotone and is as wooden as a toothpick.

I'm thrilled she found a politician who inspired her to get this involved, or -- as I understand it, her children did and they talked her into paying attention to Obama. Odd that her Uncle Teddy wasn't the impetus of this sudden interest in elective office, but whatever.

In any event, I'm surprisingly annoyed by this. I say, surprisingly, because I'm not a New Yorker. She wouldn't be representing me. However, it's just the hubris of which this reeks that turns me off.

While briefly perusing the bio on Kirsten Gillibrand, the apparent appointee of Goveror Paterson for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, this is what jumped out at me:

Quote:

In May 2008, Gillibrand became the sixth woman to give birth while in Congress. Her second child was born just hours after leaving an all-day Armed Services meeting on the fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill. Democratic Chairman Ike Skelton of Missouri led a round of applause for her before she left the committee room.

What a trooper! (Now, I actually have to read the full bio!)

***

Oops. It looks like MSNBC is backtracking AGAIN, stating that they now found out that more than one possible nominee for Hillary's seat has been invited to meet with the Governor -- not just Gillibrand. (Can't they get anything right? Just this morning they were talking about getting multiple sources for breaking news. I guess that was just academic.)

Usually I don't agree with David Brooks but this time I do. One thing that has gotten our economy and the rest of the world's economy in trouble is the concentration of wealth at the top. In America, the upper 1% controls over 50% of the wealth. That isn't good. We are destroying our middle class. If wages had kept up, we would be better off. Most middle class wage earners have lost 40% of their income from reduced pay. When the middle class has money, we spend. We buy stuff. We stimulate the economy.

Enjoy living in Ward 3. Maybe, for a change, common sense might prevail in getting us out of this mess.

Speaking in broad generalizations and gross oversimplifications, both parties try to regulate morality and behavior, but in very different ways. Democrats in general try to control PUBLIC behavior (actions that affect other people), leading to nanny-state complaints from opponents. Issues include gun control laws, drunk driving laws, minimum wage laws, product safety laws, etc. Republicans in general try to control PRIVATE morality, showing a theocratic streak in direct violation of the U.S. constitutional separation of church and state. Issues include saying who can marry, limiting women's reproductive choices, laws about private sexual behavior, stupid drug laws (prohibitions donít work), etc.

I've only really just discovered this board - bring on the Wild West!

Completely understand that you were dealing with broad generalisations but mostly agree with your conclusions. I found it particularly interesting on how the left and the right currently try to regulate morality - definitely has parellels in Britain at least.

I'm definitely towards the left of the spectrum both economically and socially. I do have friends who are liberal both in the true economic sense of the word (ie free market is king) and also in the social sense, and I know they definitely get frustrated in terms of voter choice as their views (along with many others) have effectively been disenfranchised.

Still amazed at the Obama victory and keeping fingers crossed..._________________"Socialism to help sick people - bad.
Socialism to help billionaires - good."

Mark Sanford -- what a tool! -- the jokes just come to easy and I'm finding them across the internet:

Quote:

When he said he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, he meant he was liking some Argentinian Tail.

thanks, I'm here all week, as you know

Quote:

Appalachian Trail, Argentina, Adultery
This scandal is brought to you by the letter "A"

Quote:

I KNEW it . . . when I heard he was in Argentina I wondered . . who goes to Argentina on a whim to "clear his head" (ok, very bad double entrendre....

Quote:

He does do rather a lot of idiotic things, doesn't he? When I first read of his missing status, I was thinking maybe it was some kind of drug cartel kidnapping to get leverage on, uh, South Carolina? And there were 24 hours to comply with their demands or Jack Bauer would die! But it's just a garden variety affair. In Argentina.